Professional Ferrari TechnicianConsultant

Any gear box that is a top loader ( where the stick is directly attached to the gear box) will shift far better then a remote set up with cables or rods. Although I don't understand why the Countach shifts like a cement truck.

Best gearbox I have ever shifted (gulp) Mazda Miata. Ferrari gearboxes in the mid engine cars have never been smooth. Best of those has to be the 355.

Silver Subscribed

S2000 (best low-cost sports car there ever was IMHO - I regret giving mine up at the end of the lease). Worst, 1972 Triumph GT-6; shifted OK, short throw and forgiving clutch, but if you pulled upward going into third, the shift lever could ride up with you - never figured out why that was, and the shop guy just shrugged his shoulders, telling me I should be glad mine actually ran lol.

Rossa SubscribedOwner

not to say there aren't better but for me my 1991 300zx twin turbo seemed like a very smooth and quick shifter...also my 67 corvette is great,.
then again I remember the old MGB while not all that smooth sure was fun..

I haven't really driven many manuals other than my own car (350z) as unfortunately everything has an automatic nowadays. I have always liked how it shifted more compared to a few others I've driven that were manual (B5 S4, first gen IS300, RX8 etc).

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wow I hated my 997.1 gt3 shifting. heavy clutch on street and vague shifting on track. would hit the shift forks even after 4 yrs ownership.
agree about the steering though. was excellent along with the sound

OwnerLifetime Rossa

I love the NSX shifter. It is basically a slightly longer throw S2000 shifter. (I enjoy the longer throws, personally...gives a good mechanical feel). Gordon Murrey even used it as the benchmark for the F1.

ModeratorOwner

I love the NSX shifter. It is basically a slightly longer throw S2000 shifter. (I enjoy the longer throws, personally...gives a good mechanical feel). Gordon Murrey even used it as the benchmark for the F1.

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I’m not sure I understand.

The first generation NSX was a 5-speed, not a 6-speed. And an S2000 is a front engine, rear wheel drive car. It simply can’t have the same gearshift as the NSX. That makes no sense.

When I last drove a first generation NSX it had the same rubbery linkage as my old ‘86 Accord. Nothing like a contemporary 308 Ferrari, Miata, Porsche, and certainly nothing like the hyper fun in post #89...

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I owned a 2004 S2000 with the second generation power plant. It's still the most fun car I've ever driven; loved the short-throw six speed, also loved the way it felt like it was supercharged at about 5K rpm. I regret selling it, especially because I traded it in for a BMW 128 ragtop, which was fun to drive, but didn't have that hair on fire feel I'd get with the Honda.

OwnerLifetime Rossa

The first generation NSX was a 5-speed, not a 6-speed. And an S2000 is a front engine, rear wheel drive car. It simply can’t have the same gearshift as the NSX. That makes no sense.

When I last drove a first generation NSX it had the same rubbery linkage as my old ‘86 Accord. Nothing like a contemporary 308 Ferrari, Miata, Porsche, and certainly nothing like the hyper fun in post #89...

Matt

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First generation NSX came in a 5spd (NA1) and 6spd (NA2).

Both the NA2 and S2000 do feel very similar, expect throw length... In terms of engagement / precision / lack of sloppiness. Your logic is paradoxical if you say they can’t feel the same due to their layout, but then claim the NSX feels like an Accord?

ModeratorOwner

Both the NA2 and S2000 do feel very similar, expect throw length... In terms of engagement / precision / lack of sloppiness. Your logic is paradoxical if you say they can’t feel the same due to their layout, but then claim the NSX feels like an Accord?

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The further you move the transmission from the center of the car, the more linkage the shifter needs.

The front engine, front drive transverse Accord has the same problems putting the gearshift in between the front seats as the mid engined, rear drive transverse NSX. The gear linkage is necessarily more complex in either the Accord or the NSX than the S2000.